As the holiday season approaches, Nanaimo’s Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank faces a stark financial reality that threatens its ability to meet unprecedented demand. The organization is grappling with a $35,000 monthly deficit while simultaneously experiencing record numbers of people seeking assistance.
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” explains Peter Sinclair, executive director of Loaves and Fishes. “Our client numbers have doubled in the past year, but donations aren’t keeping pace with inflation or the growing need.”
The food bank now serves over 8,500 individuals monthly across Nanaimo and surrounding communities—up dramatically from approximately 4,000 people at this time last year. This surge reflects broader economic pressures hitting Vancouver Island particularly hard.
According to Statistics Canada data released in September, British Columbia has experienced food price inflation exceeding the national average by 1.2 percentage points. For Nanaimo residents already struggling with the region’s high housing costs, these increases have pushed many first-time users through the food bank’s doors.
Shannon Peters, a single mother of two who began using the food bank in March, represents this new demographic of clients. “I work full-time at a local business, but after rent and utilities, there’s just not enough left for groceries anymore,” she told me during a recent distribution day. “I never imagined I’d need this kind of help.”
What makes the current crisis particularly challenging is the nature of the deficit. Unlike one-time funding gaps, Loaves and Fishes faces an ongoing monthly shortfall that compounds over time. The organization has already drawn down reserve funds built during the initial pandemic response when community giving peaked.
Provincial data shows that food bank usage across British Columbia has increased by nearly 38% since 2019, but Nanaimo’s increase exceeds the provincial average—possibly due to the city’s rapidly rising housing costs and growing population of seniors on fixed incomes.
“We’re seeing people from all walks of life now,” notes volunteer coordinator Theresa Campbell, who has worked with the organization for eight years. “Seniors, students, working families—the face of food insecurity has changed dramatically.”
The $35,000 monthly deficit represents approximately 25% of the organization’s operational budget. Without additional community support, Loaves and Fishes may soon face difficult decisions about service reductions despite growing need.
City councillor Ben Thompson acknowledges the severity of the situation. “The food bank provides an essential service that helps thousands of our neighbours. Their financial challenge reflects broader affordability issues facing our community that require both immediate support and longer-term policy solutions.”
The timing couldn’t be more challenging as the holiday season traditionally brings both increased need and heightened community giving. This year, food bank officials worry the gap between need and resources may become insurmountable without extraordinary community response.
What makes Nanaimo’s situation unique is the food bank’s innovative distribution model. Unlike traditional systems that provide pre-packaged hampers, Loaves and Fishes operates seven neighborhood depots where clients can select items based on their specific needs and preferences, reducing waste and preserving dignity.
This model, while more efficient and client-centered, requires consistent food and financial resources to maintain. Each distribution location costs approximately $5,000 monthly to operate, according to the organization’s financial statements published in their 2022 annual report.
“We’re not just asking for help managing a temporary crisis,” Sinclair emphasizes. “We’re asking the community to help sustain a system that effectively addresses food insecurity with dignity and efficiency.”
Local businesses have begun stepping up. Island Savings Credit Union recently announced a $10,000 matching donation campaign, and several grocery retailers have increased their food recovery programs with the organization. However, these efforts still fall short of addressing the full deficit.
Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2023 report indicates that British Columbia has seen the most dramatic increases in food bank usage nationwide, with particular pressure on mid-sized communities like Nanaimo where social support networks may be less robust than in larger urban centers.
The current deficit also affects the organization’s ability to maintain its food recovery program, which diverts approximately 1.8 million pounds of food annually from landfills. This program not only provides nutritious options for clients but also represents a significant environmental benefit for the region.
For long-time donors like retired teacher Margaret Wilson, the current situation calls for renewed community commitment. “I’ve supported the food bank for over a decade, but clearly we all need to dig deeper. When our neighbors are hungry, that’s a community problem that requires a community solution.”
As December approaches, Loaves and Fishes has launched an emergency holiday fundraising campaign with the goal of eliminating the deficit by year’s end. Whether the community will respond at the necessary scale remains to be seen, but the stakes for thousands of vulnerable Nanaimo residents couldn’t be higher.
